Obesity-associated microbiota contributes to mucus layer defects in genetically obese mice.

ABSTRACT: The intestinal mucus layer is a physical barrier separating the tremendous number of gut bacteria from the host epithelium. Defects in the mucus layer have been linked to metabolic diseases, but previous studies predominantly investigated mucus function during high-caloric/low-fiber dietary interventions, thus making it difficult to separate effects mediated directly through diet quality from potential obesity-dependent effects. As such, we decided to examine mucus function in mouse models with metabolic disease to distinguish these factors. Here we show that, in contrast to their lean littermates, genetically obese (ob/ob) mice have a defective inner colonic mucus layer that is characterized by increased penetrability and a reduced mucus growth rate. Exploiting the coprophagic behavior of

SUBMITTER: Schroeder BO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7667970 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature